Blog Archives
Shadows Of The Acropolis
Shadow of the Acropolis, by Richard Lyons, is the second volume of the series “DNA of democracy” and focuses on subjects such as equality, independence, and American history. He focuses on the most important political figures and acts, going from the acropolis to the evolution of society and how our government has failed to sustain liberty ideals. The difference between what should be and what happens in society is quite unsettling, and the aim of the book is to reflect on how things went and how they are going, thinking about what will happen in the future.
Lyons writes in a straightforward way, starting from Greek society and slowly getting to today’s situation. He analyses each society’s characteristics in a trip through the world and through different eras.
As a reader keen on details, I appreciated the presence of the illustrations, which might look funny or cute at first but gain importance as one reads the book. They are all satirical images, and their symbolism grows as the chapters continue. For example, in the author’s opinion, the octopus representing the administrative state might look cute at first but then seems increasingly corrupted and wicked, just like society’s evolution.
Furthermore, the author addresses the reader directly, asking questions and trying to get the latter to stay active while reading. Finally, the use of illustrations helps readers grasp the concepts and splits the book into three parts, focusing on three different aspects.
Shadow of the Acropolis, by Richard Lyons is an eye-opening look at the historical background of what Lyons calls a “hybrid nation,” which will catch most readers’ attention. This book is insightful for those who are keen on history and politics. I would like to end this review with a quote from the author: “- The State seeks to amputate the DNA contained in our history, in our founding ethos and separate us from the heroes who made America a free and independent democracy devoted to the rights of humanity.”
Pages: 441 | ASIN : B0B9V86BHJ
The Forgotten
The Forgotten by Barbara Dorger is a deep dive into one of the most tragic events of modern American History- 9/11. Countless volumes have been written about this awful day, but Dorger has taken a different approach than any other book.
Dorger approaches 9/11 with an often overlooked perspective, that of the aircrews who were serving that fateful day. Dorger was a flight attendant on the day of the attack, and in her book, she gives us a fascinating insight into how it would have been for the crews of the planes that went down that day.
For most of the book, Dorger focuses on the perspective of flight crews and other aviation workers before, during, and after 9/11. However, Dorger isn’t just focused on the attack itself but on the failures within her industry that let it happen. She then highlights the plight of the aviation workers who, through layoffs and downsizing post-9/11, were left out in the cold as their industry struggled to recover.
Later on, in the book Dorger widens her scope. She gives brief but detailed histories of the major intelligence agencies involved in investigating 9/11 and airline security procedures and regulation/ deregulation. In addition, she interviews flight attendants who had served on the flights leading up to 9/11 that had had the future bombers onboard. In these chapters, Dorger paints a troubling picture where their airlines and government counterintelligence ignored front-line flight workers’ concerns.
This is not to say that Dorger’s work is all finger-pointing. She also highlights the heroism and good that came from the day. In addition, she spends time praising other countries’ responses to the tragedy, and the solidarity America received from its allies.
But at its heart, this book is a tribute to the flight crews who lost their lives that day. She highlights how her colleagues, even when they knew they were going to die, kept their cool and stayed professional. Their cool heads helped prevent other hijackings that day. The Forgotten isn’t for everyone. But for anyone wanting to learn more about what happened during 9/11, The Forgotten is worth a read. Dorger’s years of experience in the industry and thorough research shine through.
Pages: 228 | ISBN : 1664183329
Shame Is The Word!
Gorilla In The Closet shares your experiences working in EPA and how the agency has gotten to the point they are at, and what needs to be done to correct the path and restore public confidence in the agency. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Reconciling my service as a naval officer and Vietnam Combat Veteran and the rejection I faced by my own generation upon my return to San Francisco Bay in 1969; and, fast forward, reconciling my service as a Presidential Appointee in EPA doing groundbreaking work and being again attacked by my own generation and those in congress who didn’t agree with me resulting in being marginalized. Also, even in 1981-83 my Vietnam Service meant nothing to them. After my forced resignation from EPA, I was completely marginalized by society. I couldn’t get a job. Shame is the word! I had to write this book to put both of these experiences in perspective, knowing in my heart, I had served honorably. I no longer feel shame but on a very personal level, heroic.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about the purpose of the EPA?
People don’t think about EPA at all. It is never discussed at the kitchen table. It is just another bloated federal bureaucracy and EPA has earned this non-reputation owing to its political nature, the structure and revolving door of leadership where there is no continuity or strategic thinking and attitudes of many in federal service. Congress was initially responsible for this state of affairs followed by EPA employees in their hierarchical attitude towards governance. Ergo, top down with limited real forward progress on environmental protection; in having all the answers but not knowing what the question is. In the past 52 years, EPA has retreated from a hopeful perch in our society, a social experiment if you will, to a mundane agency whose reach and effectiveness is limited. It is grossly mismanaged. All this can change and the book does more than leave bread crumbs to follow in how to do this! I offer legislation that is comprehensible.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
WE LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY IF WE DON’T HOLD OUR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR LEADERS (LIKE ME AT EPA) ACCOUNTABLE. My profile of EPA, it’s anatomy and detached behavior, is a metaphor for almost all federal governmental agencies. Our future as a society in the face of Climate Change, rests with all of us. EPA plays a vital but limited role; but, less so than your city and county governments where there is real accountability and where they annually balance their budgets. Local politicians know the value of a dollar and they feel strictly accountable to their constituents. I hope my book sparks a focused bottom-up attack on climate change by asking the Environmental Elite to set aside their personal ambitions in the Beltway, and turn inward to their members and mobilize them to implement nationally funded local programs that reduce carbon emissions and better prepare for and manage the worst climatological effects using land use and police powers. Ironically, Reagan was on to something when he said, “Government (meaning the federal government) is the problem”. We can do better and by rebooting of EPA as an independent commission driven by engineering, technological and scientific values and goals, it can become the new NASA on which humankind that inhabits planet earth may depend for its very existence.
Author Website: gorillainthecloset.com
GORILLA IN THE CLOSET
An eye-opening memoir for those interested in government service, politics, academia, environmental history, and environmental engineering.
Eric Eidsness, an environmental engineer and former EPA Assistant Administrator for Water appointed by President Ronald Reagan, diagnoses the EPA’s missteps over the decades leading up to today’s crisis of confidence. He proposes a solution that will reconfigure the EPA into the agency it was meant to be.
America: Standing Strong
Robert J. Emery’s America Standing Strong is a detailed analysis of the latest catastrophes in American politics. Backed up by a plethora of quotes from historical- and present- day visionaries, scholars, and politicians, Emery reviews the political and legal pratfalls of the previous administration while offering brief lessons on America’s accomplishments and shortcomings.
Emery covers such topics as tribalism, conspiracy theories, the environment, gun violence, BLM, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He relates many current events back to historical parallels, but the common theme seems to be that the American people have never been on such a precarious precipice of losing their democracy.
America Standing Strong is not a light read, but it is a useful and necessary lesson and provides readers with a worthy and informed reflection on how and why we, the American people, got here. Emery does a great job of laying down a baseline of American history, including failures and accomplishments. The main focus of the book is on how to recover from the damage done by the Trump administration. To his credit, Emery uses polite language, and the message to the American people throughout the book is a plea for togetherness, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This is a worthy undertaking, as the author presents problems with solutions, that will appeal to anyone that is willing to listen without bias.
America Standing Strong is an enlightening and impactful read and presents compelling evidence that has the potential to change political discourse in the U.S. Whether you pick up this book up to get a better understanding of the contemporary issues America faces or because you want to find new solutions to those problems, this is a book that will surely get people talking.
Pages: 228 | ASIN: B0B2KSLN5D
Eternal Vigilance
Ralpjh L. Bayrer, in his book Eternal Vigilance: Guarding Against the Predatory State, writes about the status quo, government functions, the economic state of things, and the world as a global village. The reader is taken through various concepts and enlightened on how economics works. The author’s objective is to break down his topics so that the reader will fully understand. Every topic covered in the book is given an overview and then followed by an in-depth discussion.
Ralph L. Bayrer’s encyclopedic writing style is appealing and encourages the reader to dig deeper. For instance, on Cautionary examples of Representative Government, the author uses practical examples to discuss how our actions as humans have led to a financial mess. This chapter will help you as a reader compare the economic policies in your country versus other countries and learn how governments manage their finances. The mention of countries in the Global North versus others in South America and other developing nations gives one an idea of how finances affect every aspect of human life.
The economy is among the top topics vastly covered in the book. Ralph L. Bayrer extensively writes about the generation of economic advancements and how government policies impact the growth of wealth in societies. Reading about economic freedom was enlightening as the reader gets exposed to economies that often lead to healthy debates.
Ralph L. Bayrer writes in a convincing tone, encouraging the reader to see past flaws and dents and getting them to think more seriously about the government’s financial systems, the economy, and the significance of free markets. History lessons are part of this in-depth book. The author has mastered using historical references to make his point while comparing and contrasting various situations and drawing examples before writing the conclusion of a particular topic.
Eternal Vigilance: Guarding Against the Predatory State is an excellent reference book if you want to learn about economic freedom, the role of government, and human cooperation.
Pages: 344 | ASIN : B087TQGG22
Spies of the Deep
![Spies of the Deep: The Untold Truth About the Most Terrifying Incident in Submarine Naval History and How Putin Used The Tragedy To Ignite a New Cold War by [W. Craig Reed]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DWcS2dgmL.jpg)
Spies of the Deep is riveting and timely because it has so much to do with today’s political climate and current tensions with Russia. When Valdimir Putin came to power a torpedo sends a Russian submarine to the bottom of the Barents sea. All of this occurs a decade after the cold war. Twenty three people survived but were not rescued and ended up dying after the incident. The Russians refused to get aid from the west. Evidence of collusion with a spy submarine from the United States revealed by Russian naval officers eventually lead to them being fired. This all leads to rising tensions between adversarial governments.
W. Craig Reed reveals a little known naval incident and unveils it with an impressive understanding of the events. There are different facts and opinions that the author bring into light, but the manner with which the information unfolds made me feel like I was listening to a true crime story podcast. The story is told with a sense of intrigue that permeates the entire book. I had to double check to ensure this was indeed a nonfiction book. The story itself is absolutely captivating, but the way in which author W. Craig Reed presents the information makes it feel like we are reading an international espionage novel by Tom Clancy. While international relations between superpowers that don’t trust each other can be complicated, W. Craig Reed ensures that everything is easy to understand and fairly straight forward.
I found the Russians deeply interesting in this book and I appreciated the depth of the authors knowledge on the subject and found myself feeling better educated, not only on this subject, but about Russian and international politics as well. I also found myself terrified by the superiority of Russian and Chinese torpedo technology. While I heartily enjoyed reading this book, and felt that it was well researched overall, I felt that sometimes the book dipped into conspiracy theory territory that, while fascinating, pulled me out of the deep trench of reality the author places readers in.
Spies of the Deep is an enthralling military history book detailing a grim event in naval military history that changed the world. The skill with which the story is told will appeal to any fan of political thrillers or anyone seeking to expand their knowledge on history and politics.
Pages: 273 | ASIN: B088VQJ9DP
To Beat The Big Guys
Words Whispered in Water uses your personal experiences to tell the true story of Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath, and how we can be better prepared. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wanted to correct the record about the flooding of New Orleans during Katrina. I also hoped to inspire.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about the cause of the disaster?
Most people believe the cause of the disaster is the storm itself, and the people who lived in New Orleans. The cause was engineering mistakes, so egregious that an engineering 101 student could have seen them.
What is one thing that people can be doing right now to prepare?
Two-thirds of the American population lives by federal levees. People should find out if they live in a county protected by a federal levee.
Do you plan to write other books on this same, or similar topic?
You don’t need deep pockets or special training to beat the Big Guys. I plan to write a book about the mechanics of standing up to powerful people, and winning.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
“Anyone who is interested in Hurricane Katrina, and in America’s failing infrastructure, will want to read this book told in a fast-paced narrative.” ―Scott G. Knowles, Drexel University professor and author
#1 New Release in Civil Engineering & Environmental, Urban & City Planning, Development, and Disaster Relief
In the aftermath of one of the worst disasters in U.S. history, Words Whispered in Water tells the story of one woman’s fight―against all odds―to expose a mammoth federal agency―and win.
It’s a horror story, a mystery, and David and Goliath story all in one. In 2005, the entire world watched as a major U.S. city was nearly wiped off the map. The levees ruptured and New Orleans drowned. But while newscasters attributed the New Orleans flood to “natural catastrophes” and other types of disasters, citizen investigator Sandy Rosenthal set out to expose the true culprit and compel the media and government to tell the truth. This is her story.
When the protective steel flood-walls broke, the Army Corps of Engineers―with cooperation from big media―turned the blame on natural types of disasters. In the chaotic aftermath, Rosenthal uncovers the U.S. corruption, and big media at root. Follow this New Orleans hero as she exposes the federal agency’s egregious design errors and eventually changes the narrative surrounding the New Orleans flood. In this engaging and revealing tale of man versus nature and man versus man, Words Whispered in Water proves that the power of a single individual is alive and well.
If you enjoyed books like The Johnstown Flood, Breach of Faith, or The Great Deluge, then Words Whispered in Water is your next read!
Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina
![Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina (Natural Disaster, New Orleans Flood, Government Corruption) by [Sandy Rosenthal]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vDhgSE8EL.jpg)
Words Whispered in Water by Sandy Rosenthal narrates the personal experiences the author had with her family during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The levees intended to protect the city of New Orleans broke and as a result, an entire city was almost wiped from the map. Her personal experience propelled her to get to the heart of the storm and find out why things unfolded the way they did, and possibly how they could have been handled differently.
She lays out the timeline of events, even going as far as to include government decision-making that preceded the storm but eventually had a huge impact on it’s effects. She gives anecdotes that coincides with newscasts, giving the reader a sense of the feeling of oppressive foreboding one would feel while the events unfolded. Her research and hindsight allows the reader the unique experience of observing the anticipation people must have felt hearing about the pending storm, the pressure leaders must have felt to make quick, efficient and pertinent decisions and also the disappointment or relief that would have been felt depending on how affected one was after the storm. The author did an awesome job of expressing the gamut of emotions she went through with her family and also the empathy she felt for others who were not as fortunate as she was.
But this is only one aspect of the book. It is not just about how her family survived. It is also about how she made the decision to investigate and reveal the bureaucratic system behind the fatal decisions that made the storm such a definitive event. It is also about how she tried to shed light where the media wouldn’t. It is not just about how she fought to help her family adjust after the storm. It is also about how she rallied support to help others and find ways to make sure the devastating effects would not reach the same level again.
Words Whispered in Water is a riveting account of a tragic natural disaster. I would recommend this read to anyone interested in being more informed about the political decision-making processes that can seem insignificant one day and become life-changing the next. A truly informative and enlightening book.
Pages: 330 | ASIN: B08BJCSRF9
LITERARY TITAN 